{"id":107361,"date":"2026-06-13T21:59:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T21:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/107361\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T21:59:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T21:59:05","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-the-netherlands-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/107361\/","title":{"rendered":"Best things to do in the Netherlands this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

From a relaxing day at the beach to sipping a local wine on a vineyard tour, summer is one of the best seasons to explore the Netherlands. We’ve got some great ideas of how to make the most of the summer months.<\/p>\n

Summer in the Netherlands<\/p>\n

Technically, based on the astronomical calendar, summer officially begins on June 20 – the\u00a0Summer Solstice<\/a>, or the longest day of the year. Meteorologists consider the summer months to be June, July and August.<\/p>\n

Summer in the Netherlands<\/a> can be a bit of a mixed bag. The country certainly isn’t known for its glorious weather, and over the course of the season, you’ll likely experience a range of weather types – including a couple of hot days where temperatures rise well above the 25-degree mark. Generally, the warmest weather is seen in the southern and eastern parts of the Netherlands, in the provinces of Limburg, North Brabant and Gelderland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Best things to do in summer in the Netherlands<\/p>\n

Now you know what to expect from the notoriously unpredictable Dutch weather, here are some suggestions for ways to pass the time over the summer.<\/p>\n

Relax at one of the Netherlands\u2019 beaches<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an oldie but a goodie. While the Netherlands isn\u2019t known for its beach weather, its location along the coast means it has plenty of stunning beaches<\/a> which can be enjoyed all year round. There are a couple of beaches that are really easily accessible – and so are pretty popular and can get really busy – such as Scheveningen<\/a> and Zandvoort, but those aren\u2019t the only options out there.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why not try visiting one of the beaches near Bloemendaal, or the stretch of beach between Noordwijk and Zandvoort. Castricum aan Zee and Domburg are great options too. Alternatively, visit one of the many city beaches<\/a> that can be found in cities across the Netherlands<\/a>. Many beaches in the Netherlands are also home to a beach club too!<\/p>\n

\"BloemendaalImage credit:\u00a0Fotografie – Schmidt via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Take a day trip to a quaint Dutch village\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a (relatively) new arrival to the Netherlands, it might be a nice idea to use the good weather and long days as an opportunity to explore more of your new home. The country\u2019s high population density means it’s fairly built up, but there are many beautiful – and more rural – towns and villages<\/a> out there that make for great day trips.<\/p>\n

Fill your day with a nice stroll or a cycle ride and a tasty lunch with a cool\u00a0drink<\/a> on a terrace in the sun. Try a trip to smaller towns like Giethoorn, Thorn and Buren.<\/p>\n

\"Bourtange,Image credit:\u00a0Frolova_Elena\u00a0via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Have fun at a Dutch theme park<\/p>\n

This is a great one for all the families<\/a> (and fully-grown children) out there. Whether you\u2019re eight, 18 or 80, if you\u2019re a fan of exhilarating roller coasters, then the perfect way to spend a summer’s day is undeniably at one of the many theme parks<\/a> you can find dotted across the country. The biggest and most famous are Efteling and Walibi, but there\u2019s something for everyone out there – including a couple of water parks<\/a>, which are great places to cool off on a hot day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"RollerImage credit:\u00a0StockStudio Aerials via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Visit the Frisian Islands<\/p>\n

Want to take your beach day to the next level? Visit one of the Netherlands\u2019 islands! No, we\u2019re not talking about one of the Dutch Caribbean islands (sadly) – we\u2019re talking about the Frisian Islands (Waddeneilenden), which can be found off the northern coast of the country.<\/p>\n

There are eight in total – but three are small and are completely uninhabited. The largest island is Texel, and its location at the top of the province of North Holland means it’s also one of the most popular to visit. Alternatively, head to Schiermonnikoog, Vlieland\u00a0or Terschelling, which are all smaller and car-free.<\/p>\n

\"Schiermonnikoog,Image credit:\u00a0Rudmer Zwerver via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Go on a hike or a cycle trip<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re someone who likes to keep active, then a nice thing to do over the summer might be to explore the city on foot or by bike<\/a> via one of the Netherlands\u2019 many walking and cycling routes<\/a>. You could, for example, cycle through the Veluwe National Park<\/a> or through the dunes in Julianadorp. Another option is to cycle or walk (part of) the 43-kilometre route at Kinderdijk<\/a>, or check out our picks for some of the most magnificent hikes in the Netherlands<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"KinderdijkImage credit:\u00a0leoks via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Let loose at a music festival<\/p>\n

The Netherlands is known for its music scene, and festival season is the best chance to explore the many artists and genres the country has to offer. Some of the biggest include Pinkpop<\/a>, Lowlands<\/a>, Awakenings, North Sea Jazz Festival<\/a>, AMF\u00a0and Milkshake – but there are so many more to choose from!<\/p>\n

If rocking out isn\u2019t really your scene then not to worry; there are a number of other kinds of festivals<\/a> happening across the Netherlands at this time of year. There are food festivals aplenty<\/a>, art festivals<\/a>, wine festivals<\/a>, and, of course, Pride Amsterdam<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\"LowlandsImage credit:\u00a0Ben Houdijk via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Engage in some water sports (or go on a boat trip)<\/p>\n

The Netherlands has A LOT of water<\/a> – and the Dutch like to make the most of that by spending sunny days out on the water. Depending on where you are, the options for what water sports you can engage in will likely differ, but some popular ones you can do almost anywhere – including in cities – are stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing) and kayaking. If you\u2019re after something a little bit more exciting, you could head to a beach and try sailing, surfing or kite surfing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re after something that’s a little less active and a little more relaxing, why not go on a canal cruise<\/a>, or – even better – rent a boat with your friends or family and enjoy a day out on a lake or the canals<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Stand-upImage credit:\u00a0Ceri Breeze via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Enjoy a movie under the stars at an outdoor cinema<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s an especially hot day and you want to escape the heat, then going to sit in an air-conditioned cinema<\/a> for a few hours is a great idea. But, if you\u2019d rather be outside to enjoy the (likely fleeting) nice weather – and still want to catch a flick on the big screen – then make a plan to go to one of the Netherlands\u2019 outdoor cinemas<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The cinemas are only open for limited periods of time, and the showings are (unsurprisingly) dependent on the weather on the day, but kicking back and enjoying a movie under the stars could be a special or romantic way to spend a summer’s evening.<\/p>\n

\"Open-airImage credit:\u00a0Melanie Lemahieu via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Enjoy a glass (or three) at a Dutch vineyard<\/p>\n

So the Netherlands might not be France, California or Cape Town, but did you know that the Dutch produce their own wines? You\u2019ll have to travel down to Limburg to find them, and once you\u2019re there you can go on a tour or enjoy a tasting session. There are even companies that operate walking and cycling tours through the different vineyards, giving you a chance to explore more of the local area (and work off some of that alcohol).<\/p>\n

\"VineyardImage credit:\u00a0Joop Hoek via Shutterstock.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Make the most of the Dutch summer<\/p>\n

There you have it; all the information you need to make the most of your summer in the Netherlands. Now get out there and enjoy the summer while it lasts!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From a relaxing day at the beach to sipping a local wine on a vineyard tour, summer is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":107362,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[101],"tags":[54489,199,44926,54490,54484,54493,200,54488,54482,54483,54485,54486,54492,54487,54491],"class_list":["post-107361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-amsterdam","tag-activities-netherlands","tag-amsterdam","tag-attractions-netherlands","tag-day-trips-netherlands","tag-dutch-summer","tag-festivals-nl","tag-netherlands","tag-outings-netherlands","tag-summer-amsterdam","tag-summer-netherlands","tag-summer-weather-netherlands","tag-temperatures-netherlands-summer","tag-theme-parks","tag-to-do-netherlands","tag-wadden-islands"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@dk\/116745048546096303","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107361"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107361\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}